EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

Been thinking about something the last few days, and thought I would question the ETHD think tank, to get some more opinions.

I know of several members here who have been interviewed and/or filmed by journalists and production companies. Some examples that I can think of are:
The History Channel
The Discovery Channel
Animal Planet
Pursuit Channel
Austin American Statesman
The Atlantic Monthly
The Houston Chronicle
The BBC


My question is this,  what do you ask the journalist beforehand to find out if they are going to give hog doggers a bad image, write a sensational story, or have a PETA type slant?

I think if we can get a good sample list of questions, almost like and interview for the reporters, it will help hog doggers to be able to better "vet" out the good and bad (hog dog/ outdoors friendly) journalists.

One thing I can think of off the top of my head, is to ask to see a copy of some of their published work. In the case of The Atlantic, the reporter furnished us with an article he wrote about wild hogs and the Missouri Fish and Game Dept., it was a well written article, that appeared to be unbiased. We felt more comfortable discussing hog dogging with this journalist after reading his previously published work.

What are some other things that you think we as hog doggers should be aware of before beginning an interview?

Ask them if they are a tree hugging weirdo is what I would ask. 

I dont have any experience with this. But if they we're asking me to do an interview I wouldn't.. I figure the less the public knows the better off we are... I know that hog hunting is all over now but I think it would have been easier on us to stay out of the publics eye.. just my opinion!

But I think interviewing the reporter before gettin interviewed would be a good deal to figure out how they're gonna approach it and try and make us look....

you have a right to ask them what questions they are going to ask you before things get started, so that you have time to think about your response and won't be blindsinded,  and you can weed out questions you don't like.   you can also let them know that any deviating from their list of questions and the interview will be done.  

as far as questions go

who are you with?  

do you have any credentials from them?  (can verify with a phone call if they really work for whoever)

what have you written in the past and who for?

are you a bunny hugging little fairy that's gonna try an make me look lie an ass?

just find out the direction that they want to take with the interview so you know what's going on.

In some ways I wish we were out of the public eye, but the secrets out now, and any chance we have for positive press is one we had better grab.  

I can appreciate where you are coming from with this comment, but on the other hand, I can tell you that there have been some people enlightened by being exposed to hog dogging in a good way.  Had a PETA type gotten to them first, and educated them with a bunch of BS, then they might not have been so open minded when they were introduced to hog dogging.

I don't think the general public is ready to hear the ugly side of hog dogging, just like they don't need to see the ugly side of the livestock business. They just want to go to McDonald's and enjoy their burger.   I think it does hog dogging good to show the property damage and economic impact that the hogs create. The general public does not have a problem with exterminators killing pests. I see hog removal as the same thing.   When someone begins talking about the sport, and heritage aspect, I believe they lose the general public.

It does not matter. I have been interviewed several times but never made it to the news. Because I did not give them the chance to make me look stupid. The reporter's job is to ask their questions. Your job is to give your answers. If you answer their questions you will be set up. While you do not just give random answers you do not answer the questioned asked. I went through training for it. If you are going to be talking to the media let me know. I am happy to sit down and go through how to handle reporters. But you can tell what their agenda is without them knowing. That way they do not just start attacking you. You seem very cooperative but do not help someone bent on making you look bad. But if they are on your side it will work for them. It is too much info for a thread. I could write a book on it.

For the History Channel, I required that the production company sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) specifically restricting disclosure of what I considered potentially detrimental information.

Granted, that example was pretty easy because the focus of their production was the breed itself, not hunting with dogs.

The idea was to protect our interest, while still allowing journalistic freedoms inherent to such efforts.

No journalist will ever give you final edit rights, sighting journalistic integrity and excellence. But they will work within the confines of previously agreed to limitations. If they don't want to agree to an NDA, they are not going to get what they want from me.

Steve

If you don't know what to say just get into the good politician mode. Talk a lot but don't really say anything negative. ;D

The only thing about the Peta folks is that they can tell a lie and look you in the eye doing it from what I have seen and heard.

ther are a small percentage of tree huggers like PETA but there are also a small percentage of hunters and people with our beliefs but the majority of the public is somewhat neutral so these are the folks that peta is targeting to get on their side.
So any positive feedback from our point of view to this larger population will speak volumes in our favor.
We can not be prepared enough. This is a good thread, we need to be ready and prepared for a possible interview.

Also, we need to make sure that we do all that we can do to keep a positve image in the public eye.

Great post.  When I was asked to do a TV interview I immediately had my guard raised for the obvious reasons and proceeded slowly and both eyes wide open.  I talked to the lady doing the story serveral times and most of it was me interviewing her.  I can't say I really had a set list of questions but rather I was trying to get pick up on her "feelings" towards things like hunting in general.  Once I got the warm and fuzzy's there, I slowly moved the conversation towards hog dogging but that started out as a conversation about working dogs and their different uses.  She jumped in half way and started telling me about growing up on a ranch, how her dad and brothers hunted everything all of the time, and her experiences with cow dogs.  Its became pretty obvious to me that this wasn't a trap.  Had she been more stand-offish or tried to poker face me, I was willing to pull the plug.  

I think it is also important to understand why you have been asked for an interview.  In my case, the city I am doing removal for has received bad press in the past because of the damage hogs have done so this piece was to be a follow up on that story showing how proactive the city was in dealing with the problem for the residents and the recent success we have had.  

When doing the interview, I brought only my dogs that are really sweet, aren't all scared up, and gave them all baths beforehand. When answering the questions I tried to avoid words like kill and stick, and used works like harvest or remove.

If you get the question, "do the dogs get hurt?" You answer, Not as much as I do, but they sure have fun. It is just in their nature and I let them do what they love." That way you address the question without answering it. Then you put out information you want out.  When you do that and they ask the question again use the same tactic. If they get frustrated you know they are just trying to make you look bad. Do not get upset now you know what is going on and they do not know you know so have fun with them. If you can't do it avoid the media or you will be the crazy dumb a$$ they always show. But reporters are good at acting like they are on your side when they are not.

I have been getting filmed for a hunting series to air on the Pursuit channel next season. This is a different situation because it is in their best interest and the shows best interest to look professional. Not to mention they are hunters targeting hunters.

I explained that it was important to me that the sport have a positive light on it and that my first concern is the safety of my dogs and the well being of my dogs. Also that not all doggers are idiots and some are educated and try to educate others and communicate with game wardens, land owners and others who are potentionally involved or affected.

Damn Bump,
You're going to be even more famous/infamous than you already are?  Are they using a body double? ;D

Yeah....i already have that Denali on credit. My dogs got gold leads and collars....catch dog has 18k vest. Im not sure how my wife is gonna like all the women and stalkers....but it is just part of being a hog dogger.

Dude, you don't share the spotlight? I have a real pretty spot on the Blanco with plenty of pigs, too many coyotes, and no dogs to hunt it..... Hint hint....  O0

Call me crazy but I don't think this is gonna be a problem for you

 ;)

That you make them sign an agreement that you own all or partial creative rights to the show!!

That makes it where they can not play anything with out your agreement!!!

Do you have a copy of this agreement or something I can use as a template? The freaking reporters are beating down my door! :D


Seriously,
This is exactly why I dont do interviews! ;D Over confident hog dogs and all the women would just make life to complicated for me. The Rock Star life style is just not for me!

 I avoid the media at all costs, especially when it comes to hogdogging, tornadoes, local flooding, or drive bys. I've seen all of those interviews and you couldn't pay me any amount of money to be in one.  :o

I've thought a lot about this.... I'd love to head up a front in Florida to give the public a better outlook on doggin' period...  It's near and dear to me and I love to show people the good in things... HOWEVER.   

Who the hell wants a bullseye drawn on their back??   Not me.  Not in a minority.

I see it as being sucked into a fight I'd most likely end up going to jail for... I just don't know about it...

After much thought... I've come to the opinion that the less publicity, the better.... we're in the extreme minority of what is considered "normal" to the majority of americans...

CircleC makes a good point however.... just like people don't want to know where their meat comes from, neither do they want to know how the rats die...(or who kills them)

I've had the same reaction when tryin' to explain to "northerners" about the "tradition".... with the same results

I've had much better luck describing what I do as "extermination of an invasive species, not native to our land".... GREAT selling point...


I'd rather not give any interviews unless the reporter is specifically doing it to show the good in it....  CONTRACTS sound like the way to go to me...  ;)